Ye Old Squatty

Yes. 

I finally did it:

Used the squatter toilets in Korea.


Was it gross?  No.  Was it scary?  No.  

It was fine.  It doesn't take but a minute to figure it out once you realize that's all there is.

A special 'thank you' to Danielle for teaching me how!  

I have successfully avoided this area of Korea since Joseph and I moved here over a year ago.  No longer! 

Would I choose to use it over a western toilet?  Nope...I'd even wait for a western toilet if they were side by side.  However, I am no longer adverse to the idea and in fact they are very easy to use and not at all like I thought it would be.

do you see the flusher and the top of the bowl? 
face that direction. always.

Okay...when you come to visit Joseph and I in Korea you will most likely have plenty of western toilets to choose from depending on how rural your visit gets--we also know where they all are.  If you visit China or other areas of the Asian countries you may not be so lucky.  

Some pointers?


1.  While first getting used to this, take at least one pants (or shorts) leg OFF
2.  If you take your pants all the way off, hold them.
3.  If you only take one leg off, hold onto your pants or shorts--don't let them touch the floor 
4.  Skirts are much better
5.  It is not necesssary to keep your knees together, just squat
6.  Make sure you are FACING the flusher or the top part of the bowl (sometimes the flusher is a chain on the wall)
7.  If you don't face the top part of the bowl you might get wet
8.  Make sure you giggle a lot because it is really funny once you are there and actually in that situation that you just have to laugh
9. Don't forget to check for TP before you go into the stall (always have some wet wipes with you just in case)

Check out the picture of what not to do with a western toilet.  This image is actually a poster that is quite popular on the inside of the stall door in some public restrooms in Korea (and other parts of Asia).

Almost fell over laughing when I first saw this. 
 

Okay so one last tip:

Always face the top of the bowl of flusher:  ALWAYS!

do you notice there is no flusher?  it is a chain above your head.
Face the top of the bowl.

Just in case you did not get your fill of information check this out.